Door latch



Sept. 2, 1930. F. J VAN DOOREN 1,774,682 I DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 12, l927 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 2, 1930. F. .IJVAN DOOREN 1. .45

DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 12, 1927 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK J. VAN DOOREN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FIFTH T0 CHESTER A. GOSSETT, OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA DOOR LATCH Application filed September 12, 1927. Serial No. 219,048.

My invention relates to a door latch of the type in which a spring-pressed latch bolt is arranged to be utilized as a locking bolt- An object of the invention is to provide a latch of the class described which may be dogged from a given side thereof, such. as from the inside of a room, by and upon an appropriate and simple manipulation of the same member which is operative from said aide to effect the withdrawal of the. latch olt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch of the class described in which, when dogged, the bolt is positively held extended against any longitudinal displacement by an external force operating directly thereagainst or by the operating member at the opposite side of the door than that from which the dogging was effected.

,A further ob ect of the invention is to provide a latch of the class described which may be installed in a doorwith a minimum of fitting. V r

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of a preferred formof the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan through a door and its associated casing, such view disclosing a typical installation of the latch of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional plan of the latch mechanism in its normal position,such

position being that as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side sectional view through the latch mechanism of Figure 2; the door and casing portions are shown associated with thelatch. i y i V Figures 4 and 5 are side sectional views taken through the latch mechanism and disclosing the parts thereof in different operative relations, the limiting positions.

Figure 6 is an enlargedsectional view of the latch mechanism taken generally .on 6-6 in Figure 3.

Figures 7 and 8 are side and end views of the external casing forming part of the structare.

the line Figures 9 and 10 are side and end views of a portion of the structure of the latch.

Figures 11 and 12 are side and end views of a bipartite spindle incorporated with the latch.

Figures 13 and 14 are side and endviews of a movable cylinder in the latch structure.

Figures 15 and 16 are side and end views of the bolt of the latch.

Essentially, the latch 18 of my invention 1 comprises a casing 19, arranged for disposal in the edge 20 of a door 21, and providing a mounting for a movable latch plate in the form of a cylinder 22 carrying in fixed position thereon a bolt 23 having a bevelled face. The latch cylinder is arranged to normally dispose the bolt 23 to protrude from the casing 19 at the door edge 20 for engagement in a socket 24 provided in the door casing 25, a spring 26 being utilized for urging the latch cylinder to maintain its appropriate position. A spindle 27 is provided having sections 28 and 29 pivotally connected for relative coaxial rotation, such sections being provided with radially extending arms 31 and 32, respectively, which are independently operative against the latch cylinder to effect the withdrawal of the cylinder and bolt integral therewith. One of said arms, Figure 5, is also disposable to prevent the withdrawal of the latch plate by the other arm or the forcing back of the bolt from the forward end thereof whereby a positive dogging of the latch bolt in operative dogged position is effected, such useofa spindle arm constituting a major feature of the present invention as will hereinafter be brought out in detail.

Preferably, and as shown, the casing 19 is in the form of a cylindrical tube having mounted across the forward end thereof an edge plate 33, arranged to be fixed to the door edge 20 as by screws 34., and provided with an axially directed opening 35 to permit the protrusion of the bolt 23 therethrough. The edge plate 33 is desirably removably mounted on the casing and is here shown provided with a cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion. 36 arranged to be snugly fitted with .in the bore of the'casing 19 at the forward end thereof, "and through which the opening 35 extends. The cylindrical surface of the edge plate portion 36 is provided with an annular groove 37 in which one or more bosses 38 up set inwardly from the casing here are arranged to engage. To provide for the en-- gamement of the bosses 88 in the groove 37 the plate portion 36 is provided with axiallydirected slots 39 extending from the groove 3? to the rear face of the plate portion and disposed to sin'iultaneously receive the bosses 38. In this manner, a ninety degree axial rotation of the casing with respect to the plate portion 36 after the latter is inserted in the former will effect an engagement of the bosses in front of the rear groove edge and so secure the plate against removal axially of the casing. For structural and repair purposes this connection is desired.

The latch cylinder 22 is slidably engageable in the casing" bore. Means are provided whereby the latch bolt 23 is removably mounted on the latch plate. and the bolt is accordingly here shown provided with a cylindrical inner portion 41 whereby it may be fitted within the forward end of the latch plate bore, while the remaining portion of the bolt is of rectangular cross-section fo projection through and from the opening it being noted that shoulders 42 are provided at the junction of the aforesaid bolt portions for engagement with the back of the plate 33 to limit the prot usion of the bolt. To hold the bolt fixed against axial. removal from the latch cylinder, the bolt portion ll. is provided. with a circumferential groove 43 and axial slots leadi sr rearwardly from said groove, for the reception of one or more bosses 46 extending inwardly fromthc bore of the latch cylinder: the mounting of the bolt on the latch cylinder being: thus arranged to be effected in similar manner to the securing of the plate 33 to the casing 19. It will be noted that it may be required to dispose the bevelled face of the bolt in either of the operative positions thereof in accord ance with the direction in which the door opens and that the bolt mounting now described provides for such adjustment.

If desired. the bolt may be fixed in adjusted relation with respect to the latch cylinder, and as h re showz'a. a iii-cans for so fixing; the bolt is provided which comprises a pin l8 lis posed through a perforation in the upper side of the latch cyl nder and in a registcrim perforation provided. in the bolt, the head or such pin being preferably countersunk in the wall of the latch cylinder. To hold the latch cylinder against axial rotation, longitudinal grooves 49 are provided in the sides thereof, in which bosses 50 extending; inwardly from the casing bore are arranged to engage.

The spindle 27, it will now be noted, is arranged to be eisposed through the casing; and latch cylinder with its axis horizontal and extending transversely of and below the axis of the casing and latch cylinder, the latter members being suitably perforated as at 51 and 52 respectively, to receive the spindle and arms. The spindle arms 31 and 32 are arranged to be normally disposed in coplanar relation within the latch cylinder and extending vertically of the spindle axis, and when so disposed are arranged to engage against the forward side of a transversely disposed member mounted. in the latch cylinder adjacent its rearward end. To permit the disposal of the spindle in its operative position, the spindle perforations 51 and. 52 are extended vertically, such perforations being arranged to permit an axial insertion of the spindle and its arms from either side of the latch. To provide for refractive movement of the latch cylinder, opposed side portions of the latter are also slotted axially of and outwardly from the lower po tions of its perforations 52 whereby the latter perforations are. generally L-shaped as particular-- ly shown in Figure 13. lhe latch spindle is journaled in escutcheon plates Figure 1. fixed on the opposite sides of the latch and door, whereby it is held independently of the casing and latch cylinder perfmations through which it extends for rotation about a fixed axis.

Slidably mounted in the bore of the latch cylinder between the spindle and bolt is a generally cylindrical member 56, having provided therein a cup-like cavity 57 opening: toward the bolt and between the bottom of which and the end of the bolt portion 41 the compression spring 26 is operatively engaged. whereby the member 56 will be urged tom 'nrain a direct and resilient engagement with the spindle. Means are provided to prevent an axial rotation of the member 56, and as here shown, such means comprises a rod 58 of polygonal section extending centrally from the bottom of the cavity 57 for engagement in a socket 59 of like section provided in the latch bolt, whereby as the member 56 is variously disposed with respect to the bolt, the rod 58 will maintain its engagement in the socket. It will now be noted that if either section of the spindle is rotated to forcibly engage its arm against the member 53 of the latch cylinder, the latter will be retracted to withdraw the bolt against the resistance of the spring 26, and that upon the release of the spindle, thercaction of spring: 26 against the spindle will restore the latch cylinder and spindle arms to their normal positions and yieldingly hold them in such positions. In this manner the bolt is normally arranged to operate in all respects as an ordinary latch bolt.

If, however, a spindle section is rotated to forcibly engage its arm against the member 56, the latter will be displaced toward the bolt against the resistance of the spring 26. Displacement of a spindle arm to a point below the level of the spindle axis is preferably provided for, whereby the arm will pass through a dead-center position and so tend to assure and stay in a set position against the member 56 when the actuating torque on the spindle section is relieved, the cooperating end of the member 56 being preferably bowed spherically outwardly as shown to assist in retaining the arm in its set position. lVhen the arm is so set, the forward edge of the member 56 is arranged to be dis posed at the rearward face of the bolt portion 41, whereby the member 56 serves as a positive stop to prevent a retraction or the bolt by means of the other spindle section and its arm, or by a force directed general ly axially against the bolt. In this manner, the turning of a spindle section through an angle of substantially ninety degrees from its normal position and in a reverse direction from the bolt withdrawing direction, sets the member 56 as a stop for the latch cylinder and so dogs the bolt and integral cylinder against displacement; release of the latch cylinder being thereafter simply effected from the same side of the door by a reverse movement of the same spindle section. It will now be noted that the relation of the latch cylinder member 53 to the spindle and spindle arms, is such that movement of the spindle arms to or beyond a deadcenter relation with respect to its point of engagement with said member is prevented, whereby a restoration of the bolt to its normal position is assured following withdrawal thereof by means of the rotation of a spindle section. V

The latch of my invention is particularly designed for use on the doors of bed rooms, bath rooms, and the like, where dogging rom but one side only necessary or desirable. Means are accordingly provided for permitting but one of the spindle arms to be utilized as a stop for the member 56 and also for the latch cylinder. Extending inwardly from the bore of the latch cylinder at opposite sides thereof and adjacent the forward edge of the perforations 52 are stops 59, preferably of equal length. 'As here shown, the stops 59 are formed by having part of the material to. be removed in defining the vertical part of the perforations 52 bent transversely inwardly at such edges. The spindle arm 31 is so dimensioned tran versely thereof and axially of the spindle that it may be swung past a stop 59 to operative contact with'the member 56, 5, while the other spindle arm is'wider than the first for engagement with the other stop 59, Figure 6, whereby the latter may function to prevent operative engagement of the second arm with the member 56. In this manner, the door is arranged to be locked from but one side, and since the stops 59 are of equal length, the operative insertion of the spindle-in a manner to permit dogging from a desired side of the door is provided for, whereby but one design of the structure and its parts suffices for various installations of the lock ALLS herewith particularly shown, the spindle section 28 is intended to be dis posed for operation from the inner side of a door, and the arm 31 thereof is accordingly axially narrower than the arm 32 of the other spindle section 29. Suitable knobs 61 are mounted at the extremities of the spindle sections for actuating the same, and the spindle section 29 is preferably provided with a collar 62 engageable with the escutcheon plate through which said section extends, whereby removal of the spindle may only be accomplished when access is had to the fastening means for the inner knob.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and meth- 0d of operation will be readily understood by those skilleo in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with. the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof. I desire to have it understood that the device shown'is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the cope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In a latch, a normally extended bolt, an operating spindle, a member providing a seat, acompre'ssion spring in said. seat operative between said member and bolt, and a spindle arm carried by said spindle and operative against said bolt and member whereby a rotation of said arm in one direction will retract said bolt and in opposite direction will. dispose said member to dog said bolt.

Ina latch, a normally extended bolt, a

knob spindle. a member normall snaced from said bolt, a compression spring operative between said'member and bolt, and a spindle arm car ied by said spindle and open able to displace said member toward said bolt for dogging the bolt therewith.

3. In a latch, a normally extended bolt, a knob spindle, a member normally spaced from said bolt, means operative between said member and bolt to resiliently maintain them in spaced relation, a spindle arm carried by said spindle and operable against said member to interpose the member in the path of retraction of said bolt, and means operative to automatically and releasably retain said member in the path of retraction of said bolt whereby the retraction thereof will be prevented.

4. In a latch, a movable latch cylinder, a normally extended bolt carried by said latch Kit) cylinder, a member carried by said latch cylinder and normally spaced from said bolt, spring means operatively interposed between said. member and bolt, a knob spindle normally engaged between said latch cylinder and member, a spindle arm carried by said spindle and operative in one displaced position thereof to dispose said member as a stop to prevent a retractive movement of said latch cylinder and operable upon a displace meat berm in the opposite direction to effeet a retraction of said latch cylinder, and means operative to releasably retain said spindle in said first-displaced position.

, In a latch, a normally extended bolt, an operating spindle, a bolt dogging member normal y spaced from said bolt, yielding means urging said bolt and member apart, and an arm carried by said spindle and operable to displace said member toward said bolt to dog the latter.

6. In a latch, a normally extended bolt, an operating spindle, a member normally spaced from said bolt and bearing against said spindle, means yieldingly urging said bolt and member to maintain their normal dispositions, and means operative by and upon a rotation of said spindle to displace said member toward said bolt for dogging the latter.

7. In a latch, a normally extended bolt, an operating spindle, a member normally spaced from said bolt, means operative between said bolt and member to resiliently maintain them in spaced relation, and an arm on said spindle operable against said member to interpose the same in the path of retraction of the bolt to prevent such retraction thereof.

8. In a latch, a movable latch plate mem her, a normally extended bolt fixed to said member, a stop member for the bolt movably carried by said first member and normally disposed out of the path of retraction of said bolt, means constantly operative to urge said stop member to retain its normal inoperative w position with respect to said bolt, and means for disposing and releasably fixing said stop member in operative relation to said bolt for preventing the retraction thereof.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature.

FRANK J. VAN DOOREN.

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